Setting
The setting and the archetypes that they hold help reveal the themes of the story.
Though the time of the play is not specifically stated, it can be assumed that
the play is set in the late 1940’s, the same time the play was written. The the
mix of modern language with little old forms of diction reflects the transition
that many Americans went through at this time. Within these times, the cities
and suburbs were not as developed as they are today. The Loman’s were able to
experience the industrialization of Brooklyn because Willy bought his house
which was later surrounded by apartments. Willy, who was fascinated with nature,
was keen on the trees that he saw. For example, he said, “the trees are so
thick, and the sun is warm,” describing the road he took to Boston. This is
important for the setting because Willy’s house was surrounded by two elm trees
they were chopped down as the apartment buildings. Furthermore, Willy described
the darkness that the apartments cask upon the house, preventing the growth of
vegetables and fruit. As an archetype for growth and life, the trees that were
cut down could signify the growth of Willy’s two sons, Harry and Biff. Willy
said, “Never leave a job till you’re finished – remember that. (Looking toward
the big trees)”. Also, the shade that the apartments cast upon the house could
signify the death of the trees and the growth between the two boys. Another
important setting is the kitchen of the house. Because the kitchen was “at
center” of the house and the stage, most of the action and dialogue occur within
the kitchen. It seems perfectly balanced, with a table with three chairs. Also,
central to the setting of the play are the different times the play takes place
in. Though it is written for those times, Willy’s flashbacks date to Biff and
Happy’s childhoods. During this time, the two trees were still alive and the
Lomans were not surrounded by confusion and literal shadows. MIller uses the
contrast of the two different settings to almost provide an explanation for the
story’s themes and Willy’s attitude towards his family.
The general time and setting of the play is important as well. During the late
1940’s, America was experiencing a boom in economy. To recover from World War
II, many Americans were very focused on their economy and their personal gain.
Coming out of the poverty the world war pushed upon the nation, Americans were
motivated by the new opportunities the end of the war presented. Also, America’s
stereotypical materialism arose during this period. The American Dream and its
influence was developed during this time as status and money became engraved
within American society.
Willy and his desire for his sons’ success reveals the image he and many other people
had of the American Dream. The American Dream depended, almost completely, on
economic success and status of an individual. Willy wanted more than anything
for his sons to be successful so they might achieve the American Dream that he
could not achieve anymore with his current pay. His behavior reflects the
general attitude of Americans after WWII. Status and money became the central
focus of most Americans after the war, as it was for Willy. The need for the two
possessed society so much, Miller uses the play to criticize the behavior of
Americans when the play was set. Knowing the background of Brooklyn at the time
the play was set allows the readers to understand the gravity of the themes.
When status and money was the center of society after WWII, Miller wanted to
condemn the behavior and almost obsession of Americans at that time.
On the set of the play itself, Miller uses lighting and the music as they would be
used in a movie. Lighting is used to portray different moods and direct the
attention of the audience to certain areas of the stage. For example, when Willy
is beginning to transition into his flashbacks, the lighting begins to grow
stronger and change to signify the flashback to help the readers understand the
transitions. When The Woman first makes her appearance, the mirrors light up.
When Willy experiences his flashbacks at Howard’s office, “the
light on his chair grows very bright and strange”. The music is also used as indicators for significance. Flutes are used in the most critical parts of the play. For example, a flute solo is used when Willy enters the stage for the first time and during Linda’s monologue. Also, Ben
remembered that his father “played the flute”, allowing music to take a more
important role within the play. This fact almost links Willy’s father with the
crucial flute solos.
Also, the play calls for an extremely complicated and imaginative set, which posed a
problem for the actual play. In the beginning of the play, Miller describes the
entire set as “wholly or, in some places, partially transparent”
to allow Willy’s flashbacks to take a more supernatural effect. Because of this,
many of the plays feature a house that is basically cut in half, to allow the
viewers to see all of the rooms of the house at once. It allows the setting of
the play to be very personal. The action ensues in the heart of the family and
the house, or the kitchen. It allows the audience to grasp the gravity of the
situation and the importance of Willy’s influence on the family, especially
after he died. Because of the modest nature of the Willy and Linda, they are
forced to wear very plain costumes. In the introduction of the play, Willy Loman
is described as “dressed quietly”. Also, Linda is also caught multiple times sewing the holes on her stockings so it can be assumed that the clothes they own were not fancy. Though this may be
true, because of Happy’s way with women and his paying job, it can be assumed
that Happy was dressed with the more expensive clothes that his parents could not afford.
The setting and the archetypes that they hold help reveal the themes of the story.
Though the time of the play is not specifically stated, it can be assumed that
the play is set in the late 1940’s, the same time the play was written. The the
mix of modern language with little old forms of diction reflects the transition
that many Americans went through at this time. Within these times, the cities
and suburbs were not as developed as they are today. The Loman’s were able to
experience the industrialization of Brooklyn because Willy bought his house
which was later surrounded by apartments. Willy, who was fascinated with nature,
was keen on the trees that he saw. For example, he said, “the trees are so
thick, and the sun is warm,” describing the road he took to Boston. This is
important for the setting because Willy’s house was surrounded by two elm trees
they were chopped down as the apartment buildings. Furthermore, Willy described
the darkness that the apartments cask upon the house, preventing the growth of
vegetables and fruit. As an archetype for growth and life, the trees that were
cut down could signify the growth of Willy’s two sons, Harry and Biff. Willy
said, “Never leave a job till you’re finished – remember that. (Looking toward
the big trees)”. Also, the shade that the apartments cast upon the house could
signify the death of the trees and the growth between the two boys. Another
important setting is the kitchen of the house. Because the kitchen was “at
center” of the house and the stage, most of the action and dialogue occur within
the kitchen. It seems perfectly balanced, with a table with three chairs. Also,
central to the setting of the play are the different times the play takes place
in. Though it is written for those times, Willy’s flashbacks date to Biff and
Happy’s childhoods. During this time, the two trees were still alive and the
Lomans were not surrounded by confusion and literal shadows. MIller uses the
contrast of the two different settings to almost provide an explanation for the
story’s themes and Willy’s attitude towards his family.
The general time and setting of the play is important as well. During the late
1940’s, America was experiencing a boom in economy. To recover from World War
II, many Americans were very focused on their economy and their personal gain.
Coming out of the poverty the world war pushed upon the nation, Americans were
motivated by the new opportunities the end of the war presented. Also, America’s
stereotypical materialism arose during this period. The American Dream and its
influence was developed during this time as status and money became engraved
within American society.
Willy and his desire for his sons’ success reveals the image he and many other people
had of the American Dream. The American Dream depended, almost completely, on
economic success and status of an individual. Willy wanted more than anything
for his sons to be successful so they might achieve the American Dream that he
could not achieve anymore with his current pay. His behavior reflects the
general attitude of Americans after WWII. Status and money became the central
focus of most Americans after the war, as it was for Willy. The need for the two
possessed society so much, Miller uses the play to criticize the behavior of
Americans when the play was set. Knowing the background of Brooklyn at the time
the play was set allows the readers to understand the gravity of the themes.
When status and money was the center of society after WWII, Miller wanted to
condemn the behavior and almost obsession of Americans at that time.
On the set of the play itself, Miller uses lighting and the music as they would be
used in a movie. Lighting is used to portray different moods and direct the
attention of the audience to certain areas of the stage. For example, when Willy
is beginning to transition into his flashbacks, the lighting begins to grow
stronger and change to signify the flashback to help the readers understand the
transitions. When The Woman first makes her appearance, the mirrors light up.
When Willy experiences his flashbacks at Howard’s office, “the
light on his chair grows very bright and strange”. The music is also used as indicators for significance. Flutes are used in the most critical parts of the play. For example, a flute solo is used when Willy enters the stage for the first time and during Linda’s monologue. Also, Ben
remembered that his father “played the flute”, allowing music to take a more
important role within the play. This fact almost links Willy’s father with the
crucial flute solos.
Also, the play calls for an extremely complicated and imaginative set, which posed a
problem for the actual play. In the beginning of the play, Miller describes the
entire set as “wholly or, in some places, partially transparent”
to allow Willy’s flashbacks to take a more supernatural effect. Because of this,
many of the plays feature a house that is basically cut in half, to allow the
viewers to see all of the rooms of the house at once. It allows the setting of
the play to be very personal. The action ensues in the heart of the family and
the house, or the kitchen. It allows the audience to grasp the gravity of the
situation and the importance of Willy’s influence on the family, especially
after he died. Because of the modest nature of the Willy and Linda, they are
forced to wear very plain costumes. In the introduction of the play, Willy Loman
is described as “dressed quietly”. Also, Linda is also caught multiple times sewing the holes on her stockings so it can be assumed that the clothes they own were not fancy. Though this may be
true, because of Happy’s way with women and his paying job, it can be assumed
that Happy was dressed with the more expensive clothes that his parents could not afford.